William“Drew”Darby

Primary Member, State Representative

Primary Member, State of Texas, Royalty Policy Committee

William “Drew” Darby is a member of the Department of Interior’s Royalty Policy Committee, and as a member of this committee advises Secretary Zinke “on policy and strategies to improve management of the multi-billion dollar, federal and American Indian mineral revenue program.”

William “Drew” Darby is a member of the Texas House of Representatives and an ally of the oil and gas industry. Darby, who attended the University of Texas for undergrad and for Law School, “owns and operates the title companies Surety Title and Darby Title Inc. and a law firm, Drew Darby and Associates.” He is also “of Counsel to the Energy and Real Estate practice group at the law firm of Jackson Walker, LLP.” Darby was elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 2006, and currently serves “as Chairman of the Energy Resources Committee, Chairman of the Select Committee on State and Federal Power and Responsibility Committee, and as a member of the Ways and Means Committee and Redistricting Committee.” Darby represents “nine counties in West Texas spanning the Concho Valley and Permian Basin,” which is “an oil and gas producing machine.”

Political Connections

Since 2006, Drew Darby has taken in over $120,000 in campaign contributions from extractive industries.

Some of his biggest donors include Chesapeake Energy, Atmos Energy, and Nustar Energy.

[Campaign Contributions Search for Darby, Drew, National Institute of Money in State Politics, accessed 09/30/17]

Current Activity

Possible Conflict of Interest:

Drew Darby has disclosed that he has a financial interest in at least two Texas oil companies.

Drew Darby “has disclosed that he receives income from Leclair Operating,” an Abilene, Texas-based company that “owns and operates oil and gas leases.”

He also “has assets in Kachina Pipeline Inc. valued at more than $25,000. Kachina builds pipeline and operates crude oil and natural gas wells.” As a primary member of Interior’s Royalty Policy Committee, Darby will be advising Zinke “on policy and strategies to improve management of the multi-billion dollar, federal and American Indian mineral revenue program.” Holding this position while having financial assets in oil companies could be a potential conflict of interest.

Drew Darby “faced a felony charge after he attempted to take a weapon through a security screening at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.” The charge was later dismissed.

In November 2013, Drew Darby was arrested after he attempted to take “a .38 caliber Ruger and six rounds of ammunition in a magazine” through a TSA security screening. Darby said that he “‘forgot his handgun was in his bag.'”

The “possession of a weapon in a prohibited place is a third-degree felony, punishable by two to 10 years in prison and fines up to $10,000.”

In January 2014, a Travis County Judge dismissed the charges against Darby. The investigation into the incident “‘revealed (Darby) forgot to remove the gun.'”